Delray Beach Challengers Plan Changes If Elected To Seat On Council

DELRAY BEACH — A fiscal conservative, a former City Council member and a retired police captain join a pair of incumbents in vying for two City Council seats.

Each of the three challengers vow changes, and have centered their campaigns on work experience. Incumbents Marie Horenburger and Malcolm Bird, meanwhile, have spent much of the campaign defending the current council`s record.

``I won`t call things problems unless I also have solutions,`` said Bird, replying to criticism leveled during the campaign.

Bird, 47, is seeking election to a fourth council term. Horenburger, 43, was elected last March to a one-year term and is seeking her first two-year seat.

``Preserving the quality of life in this city is my main concern,`` she said.

Her opponents point to other priorities.

James ``Pete`` Bowen, a 72-year-old retired accountant and controller, vows to cut government spending. Ed Perry, 48, was a council member from 1982 to 1984 and promises to restore a sense of teamwork if his political comeback is successful. A promise for improved police protection comes from Charles ``Ed`` Dalton, who retired last October after 25 years on the city`s police force.

``I think I know enough about Delray after 25 years with the department. I know what the problems are,`` Dalton, 48, said.

Perry, who during his previous council term sparked controversy by attacking the police department and stridently defending fired City Manager Gordon Tiffany, said City Hall employees are dissatisfied with the current council.

``I`ll try to get the council to work in concert with the administration and stress teamwork. Right now, we`ve got a team in shambles,`` Perry said.

He said recent efforts to unionize city workers have stemmed from frustration with the council.

Bowen, on the other hand, said he would try to reduce the city budget through personnel cuts.

``The main thing is that taxpayers aren`t getting full value for their money and that should be corrected,`` said Bowen, a member of the Internal Audit Committee for the past three years.

Bird has called the yearlong update of the city`s five-year land-use plan the most important issue of the campaign.

``What we do over the next five to seven years in terms of jobs and housing will affect Delray Beach for the next 20 to 25 years,`` he said.

A candidate must win support from more than 50 percent of the voters casting ballots to win either of the two-year council terms. Though voters will cast two votes, candidates run for no specific seat, and attracting that majority may prove difficult.

A runoff probably would be scheduled for March 26 if no two candidates receive a majority, officials said.